{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2017}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Enari Tuala |fullname = |image = |imagesize = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1998|10|19}} |birth_place = Cairns, Queensland, Australia |height = {{convert|188|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|96|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |position = {{rlp|CE|WG}} |club1 = North Qld Cowboys |year1start = 2017 |year1end = 19 |appearances1 = 18 |tries1 = 2 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 8 |club2 = Newcastle Knights |year2start = 2020 |year2end = 24 |appearances2 = 87 |tries2 = 40 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 160 |club3 = Canterbury Bulldogs |year3start = 2025 |year3end = present |appearances3 = 18 |tries3 = 7 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 28 |teamA = Prime Minister's XIII |yearAstart = 2018 |teamAend = |appearancesA = 1 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 |retired = |source = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/enari-tuala/summary.html|title=Enari Tuala - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org|accessdate=20 August 2017}}</ref> |updated = 30 May 2026 }}
'''Enari Tuala''' (born 19 October 1998) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|wg}}er or {{rlp|ce}} for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL.
He previously played for the North Queensland Cowboys and Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League, and has represented the Prime Minister's XIII.
==Background== Tuala was born in Cairns, Queensland, Australia, and is of Samoan descent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2020/08/21/talented-tuala-making-the-most-of-his-new-opportunity/|title=Talented Tuala making the most of his new opportunity|date=20 August 2020|website=Queensland Rugby League}}</ref>
He played his junior rugby league for the Edmonton Storm, before being signed by the North Queensland Cowboys.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://websites.sportstg.com/club_info.cgi?client=0-2262-23726-0-0&sID=113927&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=35845740|title=Edmonton Storm Juniors Success - Edmonton Storm Rugby League Club Inc - SportsTG|website=SportsTG|accessdate=19 August 2017}}</ref>
==Playing career== ===Early career=== After being signed by the North Queensland Cowboys, Tuala moved to Townsville, where he attended Kirwan State High School and played for the Townsville Stingers' Cyril Connell and Mal Meninga Cup sides. In 2014, Tuala represented the Queensland under-16 team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/queensland-wins-under-16s-origin/tabid/10874/newsid/78879/default.aspx|title=Queensland wins Under-16s Origin|date=28 May 2014|publisher=|accessdate=19 August 2017}}</ref> In 2015, Tuala scored a hat trick in the Stingers' Mal Meninga Cup Grand Final victory and was selected for the Queensland under-18 team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qrl.com.au/news/2015/06/02/queensland_under_18_.html|title=Queensland Under 18 team|first=NRL Digital|last=Media|date=2 June 2015|publisher=|accessdate=19 August 2017}}</ref> Later that year, he scored twice in Kirwan's ARL Schoolboy Cup final victory over Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/kirwan-high-wins-schoolboys-gio-cup-national-grand-final/news-story/a33c7c34709b5a1ea72310d007a58ff4|title=Kirwan SHS crowned champions|newspaper=Townsville Bulletin |date=16 September 2015 |publisher=|accessdate=19 August 2017}}</ref> In 2016, Tuala played for North Queensland's NYC side, scoring 12 tries in 15 games. He was again selected for the Queensland under-18 side but was later ruled out through injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qrl.com.au/news/2016/06/08/qld_under_18_team.html|title=Qld Under 18 team|first=NRL Digital|last=Media|date=8 June 2016|publisher=|accessdate=19 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nycdatabase.org/players/t/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503000748/https://nycdatabase.org/players/t/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=3 May 2016|title=T|date=27 December 2012|publisher=|accessdate=19 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://leagueunlimited.com/news/leagueunlimited-nyc-u20s-teams-2017-round-1/|title=Holden Cup Under 20's - 2017 Round 1 SQUADS » League Unlimited|website=League Unlimited|accessdate=19 August 2017}}</ref>
===2017=== In early 2017, Tuala trained during the pre-season with North Queensland's first grade squad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/local-sport/hard-road-to-success-for-cowboys-sensation/news-story/dfaa44cdf21bef73858c984bd645570c|title=Hard road to success for Cowboys sensation|website=www.cairnspost.com.au|accessdate=3 June 2018}}</ref> He played in their first NRL trial against the Sydney Roosters, scoring a try in the 11-10 win.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/north-queensland-cowboys-hold-on-for-narrow-nrl-trial-victory-over-sydney-roosters-20170211-guauop.html|title=North Queensland Cowboys hold on for narrow NRL trial victory over Sydney Roosters|date=11 February 2017|publisher=|accessdate=19 August 2017|via=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>
In May, Tuala played for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nrl.com/junior-kangaroos-team-named/tabid/10871/newsid/106280/default.aspx |title=Junior Kangaroos team named |publisher=NRL.com |date=2017-05-01 |accessdate=2017-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819144738/https://www.nrl.com/junior-kangaroos-team-named/tabid/10871/newsid/106280/default.aspx |archive-date=19 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> before re-signing with the North Queensland club on a two-year contract until the end of 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zerotackle.com/cowboys-re-sign-teenager-enari-tuala-27429/|title=Cowboys re-sign teenager Enari Tuala - Zero Tackle|date=17 May 2017|publisher=|accessdate=19 August 2017}}</ref> In round 24 of the 2017 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Cowboys against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/updated-team-lists-cowboys-v-sharks/tabid/10874/newsid/111184/default.aspx|title=Updated team lists: Cowboys v Sharks|date=19 August 2017|publisher=|accessdate=19 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2017/08/19/final_team_cowboys_v_1024858974.af_news.html|title=Final team: Cowboys v Sharks|first=NRL Digital|last=Media|publisher=|accessdate=19 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819145850/http://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2017/08/19/final_team_cowboys_v_1024858974.af_news.html|archive-date=19 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===2018=== In Round 13 of the 2018 NRL season against Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Tuala scored his first NRL try in North Queensland's 26-12 win at Brookvale Oval.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/05/31/jason-taumalolo-leads-north-queensland-cowboys-to-victory-over-manly-sea-eagles/|title=Jason Taumalolo powers North Queensland Cowboys to victory over Manly Sea Eagles|date=31 May 2018|publisher=|accessdate=3 June 2018}}</ref>
On October 6, Tuala made his senior representative debut for the Prime Minister's XIII, coming off the bench and assisting a try in the side's 34–18 win over the PNG Prime Minister's XIII.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/26/pms-xiii-announcement/|title=PM's XIII Announcement|date=26 September 2018|website=National Rugby League}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/10/06/prime-ministers-xiii-score-hard-earned-win-over-papua-new-guinea-pms-xiii/|title=After pitch invasion, PM's XIII prevail|date=6 October 2018|website=National Rugby League}}</ref> A week later, on 13 October, he scored a double in the Junior Kangaroos 40–24 win over the Junior Kiwis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/10/13/junior-kangaroos-defeat-new-zealand-despite-incredible-try/|title=Junior Roos defeat Junior Kiwis despite incredible try|date=13 October 2018|website=National Rugby League}}</ref>
===2019=== Tuala played just seven NRL games for North Queensland in 2019. He spent the majority of the season playing for the Northern Pride in the Queensland Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cairnspost.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=CPWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cairnspost.com.au%2Fsport%2Flocal-sport%2Fwhat-tuala-will-bring-the-cowboys-when-he-charges-into-the-storm%2Fnews-story%2Fab0f8e1fb4350008f27545bedd88409b&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=5b89e6562224695210293ccbf2dfd904-1573534108|title=What Tuala will bring the Cowboys when he charges into the Storm|website=www.cairnspost.com.au}}</ref>
On 13 September, it was announced that he would not be re-signed by the North Queensland club.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2019/09/13/cowboys-to-farewell-eight-players/|title=Cowboys to farewell eight departing players|date=13 September 2019|website=North Queensland Cowboys}}</ref>
===2020=== Tuala joined the Newcastle Knights on a one-year contract ahead of the 2020 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2019/11/12/knights-sign-exciting-centre-enari-tuala/|title=Knights sign exciting centre Enari Tuala|date=12 November 2019|website=Newcastle Knights}}</ref>
Tuala played 20 games for Newcastle in the 2020 NRL season and scored 11 tries. He played in Newcastle's first finals game since 2013 which was a 46-20 loss against South Sydney in the elimination final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/11/29/knights-2020-season-by-the-numbers/|title=2020 season by the numbers|website=www.nrl.com|date=28 November 2020}}</ref>
===2021=== In round 20 of the 2021 NRL season, Tuala scored a hat-trick for Newcastle in a 34-24 victory over Canberra.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-01/nrl-rabbitohs-dragons-storm-panthers-raiders-knights/100341132/|title=Melbourne Storm beat Penrith Panthers 37-10, Newcastle Knights edge Canberra Raiders 34-24|newspaper=ABC News|date=August 2021}}</ref>
In round 22, he scored two tries for Newcastle in a 16-14 victory over Cronulla-Sutherland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-live-newcastle-knights-vs-cronulla-sharks-score-blog-teams-video-stats-stream-tv-supercoach/news-story/6f164f2538f57a9370b0d4ad460797a4/|title=Knights keep finals dream alive as 'brilliant' Best stars in gun combo: Big Hits|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=15 August 2021}}</ref>
In week one of the 2021 Finals Series, Tuala scored a hat-trick for Newcastle in their 20-28 loss against Parramatta in the elimination final.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-12/nrl-parramatta-eels-defeat-newcastle-knights/100436668/|title=Parramatta Eels defeat Newcastle Knights 28-20 in NRL elimination final|newspaper=ABC News|date=12 September 2021}}</ref>
===2022=== In round 21 of the 2022 NRL season, Tuala scored two tries for Newcastle in a 14-10 victory over fellow cellar dwellers the Wests Tigers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/08/07/knights-survive-second-half-scare-to-beat-wests-tigers/|title=Knights survive second half scare to beat Wests Tigers|website=www.nrl.com|date=7 August 2022 }}</ref>
On 16 August, it was announced that Tuala had been stood down from the Newcastle club for not meeting team standards. Tuala had played in the club's loss against Brisbane in round 22 but failed to make the team bus which was heading to the airport the next morning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/bradman-best-enari-tuala-stood-down-knights-after-missing-team-bus/vc33dixnwidazultteehplng/|title=Bradman Best, Enari Tuala stood down by Knights after missing team bus|website=www.sportingnews.com|date=16 August 2022 }}</ref>
===2023=== Tuala was limited to only six matches for Newcastle in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 5th on the table.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2023-newcastle-knights-season-review/eb7fed33aeb7f61ca8030120#:~:text=The%20Knights'%20season%20was%20languishing,rugby%20league%20fans%20in%20general./|title=NRL 2023: Newcastle Knights season review|website=www.sportingnews.com|date=19 September 2023 }}</ref>
===2024=== After playing in 87 matches for the Knights, Tuala parted ways with the club at the end of the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zerotackle.com/knights-confirm-departures-of-six-players-214405/|title=Knights confirm departures of six players|first=Ethan Lee|last=Chalk|date=17 September 2024|website=Zero Tackle}}</ref>
On November 4, Tuala signed a 2-year deal with the Canterbury Bulldogs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-03 |title=Bulldogs sign 'bargain buy' Addo-Carr replacement |url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2024-canterbury-bulldogs-josh-addo-carr-replacement-sign-enari-tuala-the-mole-20241103-p5knkl.html |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=Nine |language=en}}</ref>
==Statistics== ===NRL=== :<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/knights/enari-tuala/|title=Official NRL profile of Enari Tuala for Newcastle Knights | NRL.com|website=National Rugby League}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/enari-tuala/summary.html|title=Enari Tuala - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org|accessdate=3 June 2018}}</ref> : *denotes season still competing
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:85%;" |- !width=2%|Season !width=8%|Team !width=2%|Matches !width=2%|T !width=2%|G !width=2%|GK % !width=2%|F/G !width=2%|Pts |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2017 | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} North Queensland | 1|| 0|| 0|| —|| 0|| 0 |- style="background:#eaeaea;" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2018 | 10|| 2|| 0|| —|| 0|| 8 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2019 | 7|| 0|| 0|| —|| 0|| 0 |- |2020 | rowspan="5" |{{Leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} Newcastle Knights |20 |11 | | | |44 |- |2021 |25 |13 | | | |52 |- |2022 |21 |8 | | | |32 |- |2023 |6 |3 | | | |12 |- |2024 |15 |5 | | | |20 |- |2025 | rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|Canterbury|size=16}} Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |9 |5 | | | |20 |- |2026 |3 | | | | | |- class="sortbottom" ! colspan="2" | Career totals ! 117 ! 47 ! 0 ! — ! 0 ! 188 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/newcastle-knights/enari-tuala/ Newcastle Knights profile] *[https://www.cowboys.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/north-queensland-cowboys/enari-tuala/ North Queensland Cowboys profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306202633/https://www.cowboys.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/north-queensland-cowboys/enari-tuala/ |date=6 March 2018 }} *[https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/cowboys/enari-tuala NRL profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011215931/https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/cowboys/enari-tuala |date=11 October 2018 }}
{{Bulldogs current}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuala, Enari}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Australian people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:North Queensland Cowboys players Category:Newcastle Knights players Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players Category:Northern Pride RLFC players Category:Prime Minister's XIII players Category:Junior Kangaroos players Category:Rugby league centres Category:Rugby league wingers Category:Rugby league players from Cairns Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen